Elements

How to Market to Millennials Without Pandering

People like to be catered to, but they tend not to like being pandered to. That's doubly so when they're being marketed to. A campaign that leaves people feeling like they're being talked down to or patronized is not going to inspire a lot of brand loyalty.

We Millennials are especially quick to notice when advertisers are pandering to us. We've grown up surrounded by advertising, and we've seen the dozens (hundreds?) of think pieces written about us and our buying habits.

So this Millennial is here to give some advice on how to actually reach the young customers you want to attract.

Segmentation

The first and most important step is to remember your market segmentation. Millennials are no more a monolithic group than any past generation of 18-34-year-old consumers has been. What appeals to one group of us may outright offend others.

Let's look at two segments of Millennials. We'll call them "Trendy" and "Eco-Conscious."

Trendy Millennials...

Are looking for what's new and hot

Love fast fashion and shopping

Have to have the newest phone with the best camera for taking selfies

Follow their favorite celebrities on social media

Enjoy trying out new social media platforms for chatting with friends

Have fast-evolving slang

Want to try the newest food crazes

Eco-Conscious Millennials...

Are always looking for ways to reduce their ecological footprint

Love clothes that are timeless and will last for years.

Upgrade their phone only when it finally stops working

Follow their favorite activists on social media (OK, and probably celebs too!)